Valmiki Ramayana 2.34.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 22

रामदर्शनार्थं दारानयनम् · The Queens Summoned; Rama’s Leave

Taking and Dasaratha’s Collapse

Spoken by Rama to DasharathaSetting: Ayodhya palace (departure leave-taking)Places named: Daṇḍakāraṇya, AyodhyaSetting out toward exile

Devanagari script

आपृच्छे त्वां महाराज सर्वेषामीश्वरोऽसि नः ।

प्रस्थितं दण्डकारण्यं पश्य त्वं कुशलेन माम् ॥२२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.34.22

Transliteration

āpṛcche tvāṃ mahārāja sarveṣām īśvaro 'si naḥ |

prasthitaṃ daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ paśya tvaṃ kuśalena mām ||22||

Translation

ข้าแต่พระมหาราช ข้าพระองค์ขอทูลลา เพราะพระองค์ทรงเป็นเจ้าเหนือพวกเราทั้งปวง ข้าพระองค์จะออกเดินทางสู่ป่าทัณฑกะ ขอพระองค์ทอดพระเนตรข้าพระองค์ผู้กำลังจากไป ด้วยพระทัยผ่องใสเป็นมงคล

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• āpṛcche: I ask leave
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√prach (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular; meaning 'I take leave/ask permission'
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• tvām: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• mahā-rāja: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja(n) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular, Masculine
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• sarveṣām: of all
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• īśvaraḥ: lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• asi: are
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• naḥ: of us
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive (षष्ठी/6) Plural (बहुवचन) / enclitic; sense 'of us/our'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• prasthitam: departing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter/Masculine Accusative Singular; here agreeing with implied 'mām' (me) in sense 'departing' (predicate/secondary)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• daṇḍaka-āraṇyam: Dandaka forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍaka (प्रातिपदिक) + āraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya/proper-name compound; Neuter, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• paśya: see
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• tvam: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• kuśalena: in well-being
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; adverbial-instrumental meaning 'safely/well'
• Role: Prakāra (प्रकार)

• mām: me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• ईश्वरोऽसि = ईश्वरः + असि
• सर्वेषामीश्वरोऽसि = सर्वेषाम् + ईश्वरः + असि
• दण्डकारण्यं = दण्डक + आरण्यम्

Context

O great king, I am asking leave of you, for you are lord of all of us. I am set to depart for the Dandaka forest. See me (off) in a cheerful mood.

The teaching

When duty demands separation, seek blessings and depart with kuśala—steadfast, auspicious composure that honors both love and law.

Duties in tension

• Obedience to the king’s command and preservation of royal truth
• Compassion for the king’s suffering and desire to remain

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma and satya (truth-keeping)

How it resolves

Dharma-affirmation through respectful leave-taking and emotional restraint

Devotion and practice

Practice of asking leave and blessings before major actions; cultivating kuśala-citta (auspicious, steady mind) in transitions.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Resolute, auspicious, restrained

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Ethics
• Obedience
• Renunciation

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Daśaratha
• Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandaka forest)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma as obedience to rightful authority and satya: Rama requests formal permission and proceeds toward exile without resentment, honoring the king’s position and the binding force of pledged truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama addresses Daśaratha after he revives, asking leave to depart for Daṇḍaka as the exile is about to begin.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s humility and steadfastness—he frames exile as a dutiful departure, not a personal grievance.